We had now once more approached a part of the coast, of which the thorough and satisfactory examination could not possibly be carried on in the ships, without incurring constant and, perhaps, useless risk, and a certain and serious loss of time.  I determined, therefore, to proceed at once upon this service in two boats, one from each ship.  Having communicated my intentions to Captain Lyon, and requested him to move the ships, when practicable, into some more secure situation, I left the Fury, accompanied by Mr. Ross and Mr. Sherer, taking with us our tents, blankets, and stove, together with four days’ provisions and fuel.

CHAPTER IV.

Hoppner’s Inlet entered and surveyed by the Boats.—­Continuity of Land there determined.—­Proceed to examine another Opening leading to the Westward.—­Favourable Appearance of a continued Passage in that direction.—­Meet with some Esquimaux.—­Arrival in Ross Bay, being the Termination of Lyon Inlet.—­Discovery and Examination of various Creeks.—­Return to the Ships, after finding the Land entirely continuous.—­Some Account of the Natural History of this Part of the Coast.

A thick fog unfortunately coming on just before we left the ships, prevented us from making choice of any part of the land which might be the most likely to afford a passage to the northward and westward.  We could only, therefore, direct our course northerly, with tolerable certainty, by a compass bearing previously taken on board, and by occasionally obtaining an indistinct glimpse of the land through the fog.  Having rowed four miles, we came to a high point, round which we turned rather to the westward, and then landed a little beyond it.

The tents were struck at thirty minutes past three A.M. on the 7th and our course directed, up the inlet, the weather being calm and tolerably clear.  At three miles and a quarter we passed on our starboard hand a point of land, which, from the bright colour of the rocks, composed chiefly of feldspar, obtained the name of Red Point.

Opposite to Red Point was a small opening, which we next proposed to examine.  We had not, however, advanced a mile within the entrance when the boats grounded, the water becoming more and more shoal within.  As it was plain that no passage could here be found for the ships, which alone it was my present object to discover, I did not choose to wait for the flowing of the tide to enable us farther to explore this place, but determined to prosecute our examination of the other parts of the coast without delay.  There were here a great number of stones placed in an upright position in every conspicuous spot, many of them looking like men at a distance.  These marks are generally placed without regard to regularity, but there were here several lines of them about fifty yards in length, the stones being four or five yards apart, and each having a smaller one placed on its top.  Having